Thriving In A Dying Industry: An Interview With One Of Today’s Prominent Editors

james Many people claim to be writers, but few are as immersed in the craft as James Ranson. A writer and editor for over 18 years, James has partnered with several publishing experts to create The Master Wordsmith, a team that turns ideas into profitable masterpieces. He is also an editor for Tucker Max’s Book in a Box publishing group. In addition to working on several Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling books, James has edited multiple articles for The Huffington Post and Good Men Project, among other sites. I’ve been fortunate to have James as a resource over the past months, and I’m happy to share some of the lessons he’s taught me. I recently interviewed James – here is our conversation.

It seems like some of the greatest writers, both past and present, don’t necessarily choose to become writers. Their experiences take them on an indirect path where they stumble upon writing. Did you set out to be a writer or has it been a complex process?

Definitely a complex process. When I was a kid I dreamed of being a fantasy author like Brian Jacques or Terry Brooks, but for many years after that I wanted to be a professional singer. It wasn’t until halfway through college that I realized I loved performing in groups way more than performing as a soloist, and that while all my other singer friends were treating voice and acting practice as a break from other work, I was treating them as work that I took breaks from to read books. So while I kept singing in groups for fun, I started moving back in the direction of writing as a career, which led me to everything from publishing an academic paper at a national conference, to writing grants for three opera companies, to building up a freelance editing business into The Master Wordsmith’s current state, and even starting to write my own (nonfiction) books.

A fear exists among young adults that they can’t make a career out of writing anymore. What are your thoughts on this?

Well, it’s tough to make a career out of writing the way our parents did, that’s for sure. Being a professor in academia, a reporter for a newspaper, a book/music/film reviewer, an editor in a publishing company, or even a book author–these things don’t work the way they used to. Many of those industries are dead or dying, many of them have way more applicants than there are jobs or opportunities, and many of them don’t provide full-time jobs with benefits anymore at all. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t find or build a writing career, only that you need to look at it from a different angle. I know several people who make good money writing articles for websites, or sales copy to help businesses sell their products. I also know many businesspeople and entrepreneurs who have used writing to grow their businesses, either by writing blogs, guest posts, books, or all of the above. The big difference now is that instead of writing something first and then trying to find people to read it, most successful present-day writers first find people who either need things written or need a written solution to their problems, and then write the things those people need to read. That takes some work, and often a significant mindset shift, but it’s very doable.

What are some tactics that people can implement to make their own writing more compelling?

1. Tell stories. No one wants to hear me talk about the five reasons you need to hire a great editor, but everyone will sit up and listen when I remember the time a prospective client was in tears on the phone with me because three different bad editors had screwed up her book draft and she didn’t believe it was any good anymore.

2. Read your writing out loud before anyone else sees it. If it doesn’t SOUND good, it won’t read well.

3. Clarity is king. Never assume that just because YOU understand something, your audience will understand how you write about it. As Denzel Washington said in the film Philadelphia: “Explain it to me like I’m a six-year-old.”

4. Write about things you’re excited about! Readers can tell when you’re writing bored almost as easily as cops can tell when you’re driving drunk.

5. Work with the best damn editor you can afford. If that means buying your English major roommate a six-pack every week, do it. If it means paying someone like me four or five figures, do it. Don’t fall into the trap of choosing quick and cheap editing for the sake of saving time or money. You’ll have to take more time and pay more money to fix a bad editing job later.

What is your most valuable trait as a writer?

I call myself The Master Wordsmith professionally because it sounds impressive and authoritative, and because I coach and guide people to create masterpiece books. But I also chose that name because it reflects one of my great writing talents: I know words intimately. I’ve spent two decades mastering them. Finding the right word, the most compelling description, the clearest explanation, the most commanding message, are like muscle memory for me. And most of my clients tell me that my words (and/or edits) say what they wanted to say, the way they wanted to say it, but better than they could have said it themselves. This ability, I believe, is what has made me most successful as an editor and ghostwriter.

What can we expect from James Ranson within the next year or so?

I just finished the first draft of my first book, called Buy Once, Cry Once: How Shortcuts Cost You In The Long Run. That will come out in early October. I also have a couple other books in the works, one about how A-students can become successful entrepreneurs, and one about a two-year road trip I took around the US, and I ultimately plan on writing 12 books on 12 different topics as quickly as is practical to still write well. I’ll also continue growing The Master Wordsmith, ideally taking on half a dozen full-package book creation clients in 2017. Other than that, I just finished visiting the lower 48 states of the US, so I’m looking forward to NOT traveling much for a while, hahaha.

I always include book recommendations in my newsletter. What are a few books that you personally recommend?

Nonfiction:

The Happiness of Pursuit, by Chris Guillebeau (actually anything by Chris is awesome), Break Through Your BS, by Derek Doepker, On Writing Well, by William Zinnsser, Better Than Before, by Gretchen Rubin, Level Up Your Life, by Steve Kamb

Fiction: The Dresden Files series, by Jim Butcher, The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Where can people learn more about you?

Website: themasterwordsmith.com

Facebook: masterwordsmithjames

Twitter: @themasterwords

Email: masteryourwords@gmail.com

Dominic Vaiana studies writing and media strategy at Xavier University. He founded a campus newspaper and later went on to advise, ghostwrite, and edit for colleagues and startups. His biweekly newsletter with his personal articles, essays, interviews, and book recommendations, can be found here. For any questions or comments, email dominicvaiana@gmail.com.

Taking the Long View From College (Guest Post for Hill Investment Group)

This post was originally published on Hill Investment Group’s “Our Latest Thinking” blog.

This summer we were privileged to work with a young man named Dominic. He was a huge help around the office and we miss having him here! Below you can read about his experience in his own words:

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t reluctant to join Hill Investment Group for a summer internship. My background is in public relations, media studies, and writing. I’m not even part of the Business School at Xavier University where I’m entering my junior year. In fact, finance and investing were nowhere to be found on my radar until Rick Hill walked me through a Monte Carlo Simulation during my first week at the office.

But what I found most valuable about my time at Hill Investment Group wasn’t my indirect personal finance lessons from Rick nor the investment lingo that I picked up from John Reagan. As I talk with other college students, I can’t help but notice how ego shapes their opinions about work, specifically internships. So often, the main concern is the title of the position or what type of tasks they’ll be assigned. What I’ve discovered is that valuing learning and opportunity over credit and titles opens the most doors. This was confirmed during my time at Hill.

Instead of looking at this internship as something on top of everything else in my life, I found instead that it complimented aspects of my life that I never thought possible. Because of HIG, I was able to apply the skills I’ve cultivated to a real, professional business. In addition, the HIG team taught me what it means to run a client-centered operation. They instilled in me the value of connecting to clients on a personal level – knowing the names of their kids and where they go to school, asking about family vacations, etc. Such an environment inspired me to implement the same approach into my personal life, as well as my future career.

Hill Investment Group oozes trust and confidence. I sensed this beginning with my first email exchange with John all the way through my last day when I wrote the post you’re reading right now.

As I spent more time with the team, I couldn’t help but notice that the reasons I was drawn to HIG were the same reasons I was drawn to Xavier University: a small group of loyal, purposeful individuals, maximized attention to detail, and a simplified approach to solving problems. But perhaps the most striking feature of HIG is its transparency.

I’ve heard office horror stories warning newbies to keep quiet and never interrupt “the boss.” Such a culture is nonexistent at HIG. Because team communication is so greatly emphasized, it wasn’t rare for a work project discussion to digress into a personal, real-life story. If you don’t think that’s possible or efficient, read Matt’s book Odds On: The Making of an Evidence-Based Investor.

The opportunity to work with HIG was unexpected to say the least, but oddly, it’s the unexpected things that prove to be the most valuable down the road. I don’t know where I’ll be in one, ten, or twenty years, but the tools that HIG equipped me with have prepared me to take on life with purpose and fortitude.

I’m proud to say that I take the long view.

4 Productivity Hacks Every College Student Needs This Year

This post was originally published on Laura Vanderkam’s personal website, which was a great honor. Laura is the author of several time management and productivity books, including What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and 168 Hours. She has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Today Show.

As a college student, I dislike the phrase “time management.” Time management implies that I’m obliged to find time for everything – to juggle a multitude of tasks and force space for an endless list of responsibilities. I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors in my life whose lessons I’ve applied over the past two years at Xavier University. In regards to productivity, I’ve found that the most effective strategy involves more of cutting things out of my day and less of making space for what people put on my plate. Here are four tactics I’ve used that have enabled me to stay on the Dean’s List, start a newspaper, compete in Division I track, and enjoy myself.

Sleep. College glorifies the all-nighter. We like the story about the guy who got an A on his final paper after slamming six Red Bulls in the library at 4 a.m. Nobody hears about the guy who wrote his paper over the span of a week and received the same grade, even though he didn’t look like a zombie the morning it was due.

The belief that you need to sacrifice sleep to increase productivity is nonsense. Functioning on less than 7-8 hours of sleep per night in college is not only detrimental to performance, it’s not sustainable. When work impedes sleep, poor planning is to blame – not superior will power. For the students who brag about their long hours and minimal rest, it isn’t their performance that keeps them going. It’s just ego and obstinacy.

If I find myself studying late, I’ll stop in order to get optimal sleep. This not only allows me to reap the results of increased productivity and wellness, but also saves money because I don’t need coffee to get me through the day. Ample sleep also eliminates the need for naps which slow momentum. There’s an extra hour added to your day (or more depending on your napping habits).

The 80/20 Principle. Formulated over 100 years ago, this principle states that 80% of our outputs result from 20% of our inputs. My study habits during my first semester of college were disorganized and ineffective. After reading about the 80/20 principle, I dissected my study habits and determined which 20% of my study techniques resulted in (roughly) 80% of my retention of material. I ditched flash cards and study groups and amplified my reading and hand-written notes.

The 80/20 Principle applies to activities as well. College counselors often advise students to join an arbitrary number of clubs or organizations – this is useless. Instead, determine which one or two activities make you the happiest and push you to be your best. Bottom line, if it’s not making you significantly better, drop it.

Set deadlines – even if they aren’t real. Without deadlines, even minor tasks will consume time. We lament and dread how awful the paper will be until the next assignment inevitably pops up. Thus the cycle repeats, and at the end of the day nothing is accomplished.

Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available for it (and, correspondingly, a task’s perceived importance will swell in relation to the time allotted for its completion). In other words, by creating deadlines for ourselves we rise to the occasion and get things done on time.

With deadlines, you don’t have the luxury of telling your friends how much you hate a class or project. Instead, you just get it done. Deadlines force us to become creative and come up with new ideas constantly. Used in conjunction with the 80/20 Principle, we not only determine which techniques are the most effective, we do them efficiently as well. The result is freedom and structure.

Batching. Without a schedule, laundry either gets done intermittently throughout the week or in one humongous, time-consuming load each month. Food gets bought on an as-needed basis and cooking is done one meal at a time. Email gets checked sporadically during the day.

The antidote is batching. That is, allotting a specific time each day, week, or month for a specific task so time isn’t squandered repeating it more than necessary.

Example: exercise at 9 a.m., study at 7 p.m., laundry on Fridays, groceries on Sundays, etc. Batching can be applied to virtually anything in college: eating, cleaning, sleeping, and more. Not only will this free up time in your schedule, you’ll also have peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to scramble at the last minute for anything.

Let’s end the pity party for college students who are “too busy” and “too tired.” Nobody said college wasn’t demanding or frustrating. But with sustainable tactics and a pragmatic mindset, there is no schedule that can’t be tamed.

The Strategy That MMA Fighters And Einstein Have In Common

I didn’t know anything about mixed martial arts until I read about Frank Shamrock, one of the sport’s pioneers and arguably the most elite fighter the world has seen. But becoming the undisputed champion of such a ruthless, demanding sport doesn’t happen by chance. Shamrock implements a strategy which allowed him, and now allows many of his apprentices, to construct the ideal balance of power and humility. This is called the Plus, Minus, Equal System.

Each day in this system, the fighter must have someone better who they can learn from, someone lesser who they can teach, and someone equal who will challenge them. The rationale is simple: when one simultaneously learns, teaches, and practices, they improve their craft from all angles. This system eliminates the part of us that says we don’t need any help, it eases the fear that we are inadequate, and it kills the tendency to ease up.

The notion of always associating with someone better than you is intriguing. Normally, we would say that it makes sense to have some sort of mentor in the early stages of developing a skill. But Frank Shamrock was the number one ranked pound for pound fighter in the world – what use would he have learning from anybody else?

What allowed Shamrock to maintain his dominance was not physical talent or work ethic. It was his ability to tame his ego. Our ego tells us that once we reach some arbitrary point, be it an athletic accomplishment or a promotion, that we have somehow reached the pinnacle of the craft. In reality, no one ever completely masters anything. There is no endpoint. It’s a constant influx of new information and experiences that shapes us into better versions of ourselves.

Ryan Holiday touches on this subject in his book Ego is the Enemy with the idea of always being a student. The basis of this theory derives from Epictetus’ quote, “One cannot learn that which he thinks he already knows.” The most difficult part about applying this theory, especially if we’ve tasted success, is initially admitting that you can benefit from someone else’s knowledge.

Those who are among the elite in their craft are where they are because they are more open to learning than anybody else in their field. Say what you want about New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, but the man has set the bar for excellence by sitting under people ahead of him. He went from intern to six-time Super Bowl Champion, yet he still dissects plays and studies game film to the nth degree every day. He never played a down of college or professional football. Compare this to the countless ex players whose coaching careers have flopped because they tried to skate by on their own experience.

The Plus, Minus, Equal System and the need for a student mindset is undeniably relevant in areas outside of sports. Aren’t the best teachers the ones who seek out new information for their class instead of repeating last year’s lessons? Aren’t the best writers the ones who read above their level to gain new perspectives? Aren’t the leading scientists the ones who stretch their comfort zone to research new methods? Businesses fail to change and adapt because they’ve lost the ability to learn. Their prosperities have told them that they no longer need to be students.

The willingness to ask questions allows us to maintain humility. Daily challenges with an opponent sharpens our skills. And when we teach our craft to a student, we see it from a different perspective and learn it more thoroughly – we become a student again and the process comes full circle.

Plus, Minus, Equal. It’s how Einstein developed the Theory of Relativity and it’s how Frank Shamrock became the undisputed fighting champion of the world.

“As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.” – John Archibald Wheeler

The More You Talk, The Weaker You Appear: Always Say Less Than Necessary

In November of 2015, Saturday Night Live ran a skit about a fictional TV game show called Should You Chime In On This? The show’s host, Keenan Thompson, made statements about a series of hot-button topics including Syrian immigration, public breast feeding, girls playing football, and Hillary Clinton. He then asked three three dim-witted contestants whether they should chime in on these issues. All the contestants needed to do in order to win the million-dollar prize was simply answer “no” when asked if they should chime in. But of course, these microcosms of our actual society couldn’t help but interject their opinions when given even the slightest window to talk.

Aside from laughing at the contestants’ foolishness, I couldn’t help but wonder when I have acted the same way. How many times have I annoyed people by slipping in my two cents at the cost of disrupting a conversation? Do I talk just to hear myself talk even if I shouldn’t or don’t need to?

It was a wakeup call for me, and a much needed one for a college student. College is a place that begs you to talk, march, tweet, and protest – it turns into a real-life version of Should You Chime In On This. It’s as if you’re obligated to fill a void with your chatter and opinions, even if it accomplishes nothing. But I like the void. It’s cool. In fact, I purposely seek out places devoid of chatter and competing voices. One of those places is the gym, but unfortunately I now have to cross this off my already shrinking list of opinion-free zones.

The culprit was a middle-aged man who looked like the type of guy your dad was embarrassed to say he was friends with in high school. He wasn’t hesitant to pull the trigger on a conversation about how much he loved the equipment at the gym. Deciding not to be rude, I engaged with him (under the assumption that I’d slip away in a few seconds). I don’t quite remember how, but he was able to maneuver our small talk into a political rant, rattling off a list of reasons why I should vote for Donald Trump in the presidential election. Normally, I would say anyone who can make a smooth transition from dumbbells to politics was a master wordsmith. But I quickly realized he was the epitome of what I had been trying to prevent myself from becoming over the past months.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with your generation,” he said. “All this entitled stuff.”

The only thing keeping my mouth shut was remembering Keenan Thompson’s disappointed face when those contestants failed to keep their thoughts to themselves. After several minutes of nodding and attempting to escape, the conversation took a turn for the worse. He felt the need to inform me that he was divorced and that his daughter’s college tuition would be $30,000 per year. Shortly after, he happily announced that he was only legally obliged to pay $12,000, leaving his ex-wife and daughter to cover the other $18 grand. Our conversation eventually dissipated, and my lecturer climbed into his Mercedes-Benz (which was presumably worth two years of his daughter’s tuition).

Congrats, man. Now I know that you have a distorted view of our political landscape and you’re selfish.

As much as I wanted to be angry at the man, I felt sorry for him. How lonely must your life be that you’re so prepared to unleash such an onslaught of your thoughts on an unsuspecting twenty-year-old? What kind of repressed anger and resentment could cause such a desperate and irrational desire to be heard? Regardless of the answer to those questions, I had a clear illustration of what I didn’t want my life to resemble.

In 2014 I read Robert Greene’s fourth law in his book The 48 Laws of Power: “Always say less than necessary,” but I didn’t internalize it until that day at the gym. We desperately want to release the tension and excitement that’s pent up in our minds about some concept or issue. But the problem is that chatter (especially with strangers) is the wrong outlet for this. Oversharing reveals the weaknesses in our psyche before we’ve had a chance to work on them, and we come off as foolish unbeknownst to ourselves.

Excessive talking gives reassurance to the insecure. It’s abundant and free. But we neglect the cost we pay by losing productivity, and worse, wasting other people’s time. What’s scarce, however, is the ability to deliberately remove oneself from the discussion – to listen, observe, and avoid embarrassment.

What would Keenan Thompson think? Are you saying something because it needs to be said, or do you just want to be part of the conversation?

I’ll cut my writing off here before I say more than necessary.

7 Things That Happened During My 7-Day Social Media Detox

“Dominic, a lot has happened since you last logged in to Facebook.”

That was the subject of four emails I received from Facebook over the past week after deleting the app from my phone. Yes, a lot did happen since I last logged in. But not in the sense that Mark Zuckerberg and company thought I’d been missing out on.

I went on a social media detox. I didn’t like any Instagram pictures, read any tweets, or reply to any Snapchats until yesterday. I don’t consider myself addicted to social media. It’s more of an escape valve from my to-do list – a virtual smoke break. When you hear about people quitting social media, it’s usually because it’s seriously interfering with their work or family life. For me it was an experiment.

It wasn’t challenging, but it was strange. For the first few hours, I would catch myself reaching for my phone, only to remember I didn’t have those all-too-familiar app icons on my screen waiting to be opened. It was like riding a bike without training wheels for the first time. At first you’re shaky, but then you wonder why you ever needed them in the first place. Anyway, I figured since I went seven days without social media, I could list the seven most important things that happened:

1. I realized I wasn’t important or popular enough that I couldn’t live without Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

2. My productivity increased dramatically. I wrote four articles (including this one).

3. I talked to people. Once I remembered my home screen would be devoid of all red notification icons for a week, I was free to interact instead of burying my head in my phone – at the bank, at the store, and at home.

4. I ate much healthier. I’m attributing that to the absence of sped-up cooking videos.

5. My phone battery lasted all day (usually with 30% to spare).

6. I had more free time. I typically spent a total of 30 minutes per day on social media before the detox, which may not seem like a lot. But 30 minutes lasts awhile if you just sit down and watch the clock. I cooked, visited a couple people I hadn’t seen in weeks, worked out, and read (more than usual).

7. I was in a better mood. You’d be surprised how much other people’s complaining, arguing, and negativity affects your own temperament.

If I had to sum up my social media detox to someone in one sentence, it would be this: If you want to see your productivity skyrocket, ground yourself in reality, and be healthier, delete it all for a week – you won’t be attached even when you have it back.

Exercise: Cheaper Than Therapy (And Cocaine)

People piss us off. We feel stuck and unsatisfied. We have so much to do that we end up doing nothing at all, which leads to excuses that perpetuate the cycle. This week, my excuse was writer’s block. Between work and unnecessary distractions, it seemed like I was unable to come up with any new ideas (at least any that would be worth your time to read). So I did what I’ve always done when I’m confused, excited, or angry: I put myself through a grueling workout. It wasn’t until I was halfway through my routine at the gym that realized I needed to write about the benefits of strenuous exercise.

The key word here is strenuous – not flitting around from machine to machine or doing a few minutes on the elliptical. Instead, take the long way on your run. Do an extra set of squats. By pushing your physical limits, frivolous distractions and problems that weigh you down trickle away.

You got in a fight with your boyfriend today? Run another mile. Your coworker made fun of you? Do another rep. You can’t come up with an idea for your next project? Swim another lap. When you finish, you’ll be amazed how physically, mentally, and emotionally refreshed you are. Exercise is the figurative reset button on our day-to-day lives.

You’ve probably heard of runner’s high; it’s a real thing. The good news is that it’s not limited to running. When exercising intensely, the body releases endorphins, the same chemicals that produce euphoria similar to the effects of opioids. Although opioids are often abused with substances like cocaine, they are prescribed by doctors to inhibit pain and combat addiction.

So yes, instead of going to Alcoholics Anonymous or snorting coke, you can get the same effect by running hill repeats. It’s cheaper, too.

Yes, I quit my collegiate athletic career, but I set a strict workout regimen for myself. It may not be as demanding as Division I track, but I push myself as hard as my body will allow. There is a perverse sense of pleasure derived out of pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion, knowing that you’re sharpening your body as well as your mind in the process.

Often the best ideas come when we are in the middle of a strenuous run or a lengthy swim. All the thoughts that were once clumped together seem to sort themselves out. This is because there’s nothing else to dilute them. It’s you versus yourself, which can be frightening for some people until they realize it’s exactly what they need to take their productivity to the next level.

As the best-selling author Ryan Holiday notes, “All exercise is cathartic.” Instead of ignoring our obstacles and agitations, exercise forces us to confront them head-on, and ultimately leads to a sense of psychological relief through the expression of those emotions to ourselves.

On a lighter note, exercise gives us that daily dose of self-accomplishment that we desperately attempt to fill with Netflix, Facebook, and made-up chores. By waking up each day with a physical goal that must be achieved, you are forced to hold yourself accountable. Write it down, and once you meet your quota for the day, cross it off your list and do it again tomorrow.

But the journey has no destination. Unless you’re training for a competition, exercise is not a means to some vague end. It doesn’t need to be justified once it becomes a habit.

People that exercise habitually don’t do it because they’re ultra-disciplined, they do it because it’s a regular part of their life like eating or sleeping; it feels good. They crave lifting weights or going for a run because it frees them. That’s why you never see a bodybuilder complain about going to the gym. For lack of a better term, it becomes an addiction – a positive one though.

Oh, and when you think it gets too hard, consider the person who isn’t able-bodied and how badly they would want to trade their circumstances for the temporary pain you feel during a tough workout.

Strenuous exercise is my therapy. The fleeting pain that it necessitates pales in comparison to the productivity and mental decompression that follows. I love the struggle. It’s what allowed me to write this, and it’s why I’m going to take on another workout right now.

Meet The Media Guru Behind Some Of Today’s Best-Selling Authors

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You’ve probably never heard of Michael Tunney. In fact, some authors and entrepreneurs may not want you to hear about him – he’s their secret weapon.

Trained under the controversial media strategist and author Ryan Holiday, Michael is a media mastermind who works behind the scenes to get epic amounts of publicity for his clients. Although he can’t disclose all of his work, some of the most notable projects he’s worked on include James Altucher’s Choose Yourself (which sold over 40,000 copies in its first month), Robert Greene’s Mastery (a New York Times bestseller), and Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is The Way (which has sold over 100,000 copies and is widely popular among professional athletes).

I discovered Michael after reading Ryan Holiday’s acknowledgements in his most recent book Ego Is The Enemy and was fortunate to strike up a conversation with him recently. Michael does much of the same work that I enjoy, most notably writing. I even found out that his father and brother went to Xavier University, where I’m currently a student.

As you can imagine, I had a million questions for Michael and wanted to ask him things that would particularly interest readers. But before we get into the good stuff, here’s Michael Tunney at a glance:

Current gig: Product Developer at Social Triggers & Founder of Lost Context Media

Location: Los Angeles

Favorite hobby: Exploring LA, been here for about six months

Music of choice: White guy rock (Wilco, Pearl Jam, Jason Isbell, etc.)

One word that best describes you: Knowledgeable

One person you’d love to meet: Eddie Vedder

You originally started a career in law before launching bestselling book campaigns and exploring your writing career—how did you get into the business you’re in today?

I got the stones to leave the law about two years into practicing, but I should have dropped out of law school when I had the chance. For anyone thinking about going to law school, don’t. For why, read this or this.

I had moved to Austin with my girlfriend at the time, working a meaningless job at smaller firm. I was desperate and looking for a way out because I knew I didn’t want to end up miserable, like every single middle-aged lawyer I’d ever met. I was also basically destitute.

On a lark I emailed two authors, Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield, who were coming out with The Art of Doing and looking for unpaid interns. I did some marketing work for them and then emailed Ryan Holiday, who’s blog I’d been following for a while. After a series of emails and a phone call, he had me meet one of his mentors in Austin, Tucker Max, to make sure I wasn’t a serial killer. I think the next week I was interning for Brass Check and it went from there.

People typically consider careers in marketing or writing to be broad or vague – what makes your work unique?

Job titles in marketing have become almost purposely vague, which comes along with specialization. Like any other business, you have to learn the language of that niche to look like you fit in or know what people actually do.

I can’t sit here and say my work is unique, but I do have a knack for writing in other people’s voices in a way that resonates with their ideal audience (95% of my writing work is ghostwriting).

You write a lot about “hustling” and carving a path – what do you feel that young people today are doing wrong or could improve upon career-wise?

I regularly refer to my “career” in my twenties as a dumpster fire, and transitioning out of law in my mid-twenties was a nightmare. So as someone who has been at the bottom of the barrel career-wise, I’ve learned it is essential not to lose hope or stop believing in yourself.

I’m not a religious person and just typing “believe in yourself” makes me cringe, but without some faith that things will get better, its going to be nearly impossible to take action and have the confidence to take risks.

Other than that, be generous and give to other people. It’s not always the natural impulse when you are looking for a job because you’re most likely thinking about being able to pay rent. But acting selfish or entitled just doesn’t work. Give, give, give and you’ll be paid back in ways you can’t see in the moment.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you look up to or think you could be of service to. Every time I’ve done it something good has come my way, even if it was just lessening the fear of rejection by sending the damn email.

Finally, don’t be so afraid. There is nothing to be afraid of. So be bold, be assertive, ask the dumb questions, and get out of your own head and do shit.

You’ve had success with some of the top authors in the world such as Robert Greene, James Altucher, and Ryan Holiday – do you have clients knocking your door down trying to get you to work for them? How many clients do you currently have?

I only take on a few clients every month, so it’s usually about choosing the right projects and making sure there’s a good fit for the client. I consider myself very lucky to be very busy.

Who would you love to work for but haven’t yet been able to?

I’ve been pretty lucky to work with some hard working people who know what they’re doing and taught me a lot. Maybe working for a great show runner like David Simon or Vince Gilligan.

What should we expect to see in the next few years from Michael Tunney?

Getting more of my own writing out in the blood stream. My current poor excuse is that I’m too busy with my other work, but we both know that’s a lie.

How can people get in touch with you and follow your work?

My email is michaelatunney@gmail.com, my website is michaeltunney.com and Lost Context Media can be found here. Oh, and I’m on Twitter @mike_tunney.

Along with my writing, I send my newsletter subscribers some book recommendations twice a month – do you have any book recommendations of your own?

I’m currently reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. I’m not a runner, but there’s a lot of stuff in here about the mind of a writer that’s pretty good.

40 Percent Of Americans Don’t Use This Fundamental Technology – Do You?

Look around your home, your office, or your classroom. Genius innovators have given us the Internet, smart phones, cars that park themselves – the list is endless.

But what if you found out you were part of the 40 percent of Americans that miss out on the single most impactful piece of technology the world has ever seen? Further, what if you realized this technology has been under your nose your whole life? In fact, this technology has survived over 5,000 years with virtually no changes.

Books. Physical books.

They are the perfect technology: cheap, convenient, and potentially life-changing.

Despite advances with phones, computers and (insert frivolous app here), books have remained the default resource for information and entertainment; as well they should be.

Sadly, however, a Pew Research survey concluded that nearly 40% of American adults didn’t pick up a book last year.

As someone who happily devours books, this saddens me. Admittedly, I hated reading until I graduated high school (where I was forced to read). But I soon understood that the greatest obstacle to self-improvement is adopting the attitude that you don’t need help – that you have everything figured out. This is the single most destructive lie you can tell yourself.

As Ryan Holiday, who himself has authored four books that have shaped my life’s path, adeptly reminds us, “Whatever problem you’re struggling with is probably addressed in some book somewhere written by someone a lot smarter than you.”

And he’s right.

Though simple, books are revolutionary. They provide solutions to complex problems that modern technologies can only provide temporary relief for. A couple hundred pages can help you find happiness, become a better person, embrace obstacles, or just enjoy a good story depending on your taste.

If time is your excuse of choice not to take advantage of books, it’s an invalid one. I’m often asked by friends and colleagues how I have time to read every day, to which I respond by asking how they have time to watch their favorite show or exercise or eat. When something becomes important – when something becomes essential – you make time for it. It’s part of my job. It’s non-negotiable.

Sure, books aren’t free. But ten bucks is pocket change compared to the money we shell out for phones, shoes, and watches that tell us when someone Snapchats us. This is not to say any of those things are inherently evil or useless, but if we look at reading as an investment rather than a chore, our perspective changes. The potential ROI (return on investment) for a book is far greater than the ROI for those things in life that we deem as necessities.

In the moment you post that Facebook status or watch another sped-up cooking video, you could read something that completely alters your life’s path.

Will that happen with every book you read?

No.

And if you’re not a habitual reader, it will be slow and difficult at first, just like it is learning to use any other new high-tech software or device.

But once you incorporate reading into the mix of technologies in your life, a change occurs. The more you read, the more aware you become of the world around you and the better sense you can make of it. Books offer us the rare opportunity to detach ourselves from the mundanity of a dramatic, tech-filled life.

There’s no app for that.

If I baited you into reading this because you thought I knew about some secret gadget, I offer you my deepest apologies.

Now close your browser and pick up a book.

The Best Way To Get Ahead Of Your Peers – Hint: It’s Not An Internship

After spending a couple of years at college, it seems like the word “internship” has reached an almost sacred status. Students worship internships, deeming them as the golden tickets to escort them from college into the job of their dreams. In just the past month, I’ve received numerous emails from my school directing me towards internships not even remotely related to what I’m doing – the term “internship” itself is vague and insignificant.

Millennials have been trained to take the safe route: get lined up with a company that’s been successful and make people look good so that we, in turn, might be successful too. It’s a decent plan, but there’s a way to take it a step further if you’re willing to take a risk

As you prepare for your next steps, your may feel pressured by your parents or professors to find an internship. This can be confusing. Should you stay in town or leave? Should you be paid or work for free? How many hours will you have to work per week? Will you get class credit?

Fortunately, there is a solution for the internship dilemma: it’s the Canvas Strategy. In its simplest terms, it means finding canvases for other (smarter) people to paint on. I originally learned this from Ryan Holiday, and it changed my life for the better.

How does the Canvas Strategy differ from finding an internship? For starters, completely forget about the title of your position. Also stop worrying about credit, and throw out the idea of what a job is “supposed to be” on paper. Instead, the Canvas Strategy calls us to focus all our energy on seeking, presenting, and facilitating opportunities that help other people thrive. It’s certainly more glamorous to chase your own glory, but far less effective.

People that practice the Canvas Strategy discover that they benefit the most when they seek emerging and remarkable things within their industry and latch on to them as opposed to begging for a spot at an established business. The old approach was to make your boss look good, but the Canvas Strategy entails no ass-kissing.

Having a set curriculum kills incentive and deadens the learning process. Instead, promote others’ creativity; discover who they can collaborate with. It makes their life easier and puts them in a better position to help you. Discover what you can do that’s unique, and apply it to a developing idea. The rest will fall in place. Don’t worry about the money yet.

Here’s an example from my own life. When I declared my major as public relations, I immediately began researching all the top firms nearby. But I was playing the loser’s game. The odds were against me to land a spot at Fleishman Hillard or some other industry giant. I had no connections or recommendations.

Around the time I discovered the Canvas Strategy, my uncle and mentor, Matt Hall, was in the process of marketing his first book, and needed somebody to help him grow his audience. I immediately said I wanted to get involved with this process, and when he told me to contact KAOH Media to see if they could help him, I established a relationship with their founder which led to a paid position with her firm that would eventually take on Matt as a client.

This could have never happened by sitting on my couch and aimlessly sending my resume to every firm I could find. You can be as ambitious as you want, sending emails and making phone calls to your dream company, but it will be diligence, creativity, and self discipline that distinguish you and take you where you need to go.

This has been one of my longer posts, but for good reason. The Canvas Strategy could be the difference between being stuck in a cubicle and launching the next big idea in your industry.

Here are some valuable lessons that I learned the hard way and want you to take away:

Nobody owes you anything. Seek what you can do for others, not what they can do for you.

You don’t need the title “internship.” It’s better to have practical knowledge than a fancy desk, or even money.

Learn something without a having a definite reward, just for the sake of learning it.

Put your work in front of people and ask for bold feedback. Embrace it.

Do your assigned job correctly – even if you hate it. Only narcissists think they’re too good for their position. If you don’t perform minor tasks with vigor, you’re not qualified to do more important things.

* You can read Ryan Holiday’s original post about the Canvas Strategy here.